Redmi Note 7 has become a real bestseller among budget smartphones thanks to the combination of powerful hardware and an impressive camera. But even with a 48 megapixel sensor photo quality depends not only on technical characteristics, but on the ability to use them. In this article we will look at how to get the most out of your camera. Redmi Note 7, avoid common mistakes and get pictures that are not inferior to flagships.

Many users complain about “soapy” photos in low light or overexposed frames in the sun. The reason lies not in the device, but in incorrect settings or ignorance of the features of the sensor Sony IMX586. We tested all shooting modes and compared the results with competitors (for example, Samsung Galaxy A50 And Realme 5 Pro) and prepared a checklist of optimal parameters for different scenes.

In the article you will find:

  • 🔍 Detailed analysis of technical characteristics cameras (including hidden sensor capabilities).
  • 📸 Step by step instructions on settings for portraits, landscapes and night photography.
  • ⚡ Comparison with competitors by key parameters: detail, color rendition, noise reduction.
  • 🎛️ Secret tricks, which are not written about in official manuals (for example, how to enable RAW- filming).

Redmi Note 7 camera specifications: what 48 MP hides

Main module Redmi Note 7 equipped with a sensor Sony IMX586 with permission 48 megapixels, but by default the smartphone takes pictures in 12 MP due to technology pixel binning (combining 4 pixels into 1). This improves light transmission and reduces noise, but deprives the user of real resolution. To shoot in full 48 MP, you need to manually switch in the camera settings.

Secondary module - 5 MP depth sensor (for bokeh effect in portrait mode). It does not affect the quality of the main photo, but is responsible for blurring the background. The lack of a wide-angle or telephoto lens is compensated for by software processing, but this imposes restrictions on creative shooting.

Key camera parameters:

  • 📷 Main module: 48 MP, f/1.8, phase autofocus, LED flash.
  • 👥 Auxiliary module: 5 MP, f/2.2 (for portrait mode).
  • 🎥 Video: 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, electronic stabilization.
  • 🔋 Software chips: night mode, HDR, AI optimization, manual mode (Pro Mode).

📊 How often do you use your smartphone camera?
  • Daily
  • Several times a week
  • Only on holidays
  • I hardly take pictures

Important: when shooting in 48 MP, files take up 3-4 times more space (up to 20 MB per frame), and processing takes up to 2-3 seconds. Use this mode only for static subjects or in good lighting.

Comparison with competitors: who shoots better?

To objectively evaluate the camera Redmi Note 7, we compared it with the main competitors in the budget segment: Samsung Galaxy A50, Realme 5 Pro And Honor 10i. Testing was carried out under the same conditions: daylight, room with artificial light and night shooting.

  • Realme 5 Pro
  • Honor 10i
    • Parameter Redmi Note 7 Samsung Galaxy A50
    Detail (daytime) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (48 MP gives an advantage) ⭐⭐⭐ (12 MP with good processing) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (48 MP, but worse noise reduction) ⭐⭐⭐ (24 MP, medium detail)
    Color rendition Rich but sometimes exaggerated colors Natural, close to reality Contrasting, with a cool tint Warm colors, glare in the sun
    Night photography Good (with night mode) Medium (high noise) Poor (blurry details) Satisfactory (with AI processing)
    Portrait mode Accurate blur, but sometimes “eats” hair Soft bokeh, natural transitions Hard edges, artifacts Good blur, but poor face detail

    Based on the test results Redmi Note 7 showed the best results in day shooting thanks to high resolution and good processing. However, in night conditions he gives in Samsung Galaxy A50 due to more aggressive noise reduction, which “eats” small details. Realme 5 Pro loses in all scenes due to poor software optimization.

    💡

    If color reproduction is important to you, turn off the “AI Enhancement” option in the camera settings - it artificially saturates colors, which looks unnatural in landscapes.

    The best settings for perfect photos

    Default camera Redmi Note 7 uses automatic parameters that are not always optimal. To improve the quality of your photos, we recommend setting the following options:

    Disable "AI Enhancement" (if you want natural colors)

    Enable HDR in Auto mode

    Set aspect ratio to 4:3 (maximum resolution)

    Activate the “Grid” for the correct composition

    Disable “Watermark” (degrades quality during processing) -->

    For portrait photography:

    • 👤 Use the mode Portrait only in good lighting - in the dark it adds noise.
    • 💡 Turn it on Studio light effect (in the portrait mode settings) for three-dimensional shots.
    • 🔄 If your smartphone does not recognize the edges of an object well, try changing the shooting angle or distance.

    For night photography:

    • 🌙 Always use Night mode — it takes several frames and combines them to reduce noise.
    • 📱 Secure your smartphone on a tripod or rest it on a hard surface - even a slight hand shake will ruin the frame.
    • ⏱️ In manual mode (Pro Mode) set shutter speed 1/10–1/4 s and ISO 800–1600.

    ⚠️ Attention: When shooting in RAW All software processing is disabled, including autofocus and white balance. This mode is only suitable for experienced users who are ready to process photos in Lightroom or Photoshop.

    How to enable hidden camera features

    Redmi Note 7 has several non-obvious features that are not advertised in the interface. Here's how to activate them:

    1. Shooting in RAW (DNG format)

    To save raw files at maximum detail:

    1. Open the application Camera.
    2. Go to Settings → Advanced → Image Format.
    3. Select RAW+JPEG (two files will be saved: processed and “raw”).

    2. Manual focus control in video

    By default, autofocus in video is unstable. To lock focus:

    1. Start recording video.
    2. Tap the screen at the point where you want to lock focus.
    3. Hold your finger down for 2-3 seconds until the message appears AF Lock.

    3. Increase video bitrate

    The standard 4K video bitrate is ~30 Mbps, but it can be increased to 50 Mbit/s via the engineering menu: 

    *#*#4636#*#* → Информация о телефоне → Выбрать заднюю камеру → Установить "Video Bitrate" на максимальное значение.
    ⚠️ Attention: Increasing the bitrate increases the load on the processor and can lead to overheating during long-term shooting.

    Common problems and how to fix them

    Even with the correct settings, users Redmi Note 7 face typical problems. Let's look at the most common ones and ways to solve them.

    1. Blurred photos when shooting at 48 MP

    Reason: long shutter speed due to low light or hand shaking. Solution:

    • 💡 Use an additional light source or shoot in daylight.
    • 📱 Turn it on Grid and make sure that the horizon is level - this will reduce the risk of blurring.
    • ⏱️ In manual mode (Pro Mode) set the shutter speed no longer 1/50 s.

    2. Overexposed shots in the sun

    Reason: Automatic exposure overestimates brightness. Solution:

    • ☀️ Touch the screen in the darkest area of the frame to have the camera adjust the exposure.
    • 🔘 Turn it on HDR — it will help preserve details in light and dark areas.
    • 📉 In manual mode, reduce ISO to 100–200 and shorten your shutter speed.

    3. Poor focusing in macro mode

    Reason: the minimum focal length of the main camera is ~8 cm. Solution:

    • 🔍 Move your smartphone 10–15 cm away from the object for clear focus.
    • 💡 Use additional lighting - autofocus works worse in the dark.
    • 📱 Switch to manual focus (Pro Mode) and manually adjust the sharpness.

    Why do photos in messengers lose quality?

    When sent via WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, pictures are automatically compressed to a resolution of 1200–1600 pixels and a weight of ~100–300 KB. To avoid losses:

    1. Send a photo as a “file” (in Telegram) or “document” (in WhatsApp).

    2. Use cloud services (Google Photos, Yandex Drive) to transfer originals.

    3. Before sending, reduce the resolution to 2000–2500 pixels manually (for example, through the application Photo & Picture Resizer).

    Photo processing: programs and life hacks

    Even the perfect shot can be improved with post-processing. For Redmi Note 7 Both mobile applications and desktop editors are suitable. Main rule: don't overdo it — excessive processing spoils the naturalness.

    Top 3 applications for processing:

    • 📱 Adobe Lightroom Mobile - professional tool with support RAW, curves and presets.
    • 🎨 Snapseed is a free editor from Google with a user-friendly interface and a “Selective Correction” tool.
    • 🌈 VSCO — stylish filters and fine-tuning exposure and contrast.

    Basic edits for photos from Redmi Note 7:

    • 🔆 Exposition: Increase by +0.3–0.5 EV if the frame is too dark.
    • 🎭 Contrast: Add +10–15 for a richer image.
    • 🔵 Temperature: Move the slider towards cool tones (–5) if the photo is too “yellow”.
    • 🔍 Sharpness: apply sharpening mask (Sharpening) only to small details, avoiding artifacts.

    💡

    During processing RAW-photo from Redmi Note 7, first adjust the white balance and then the exposure. Otherwise the colors will be distorted.

    Processing example:

    The original frame (left) looks dull, and after editing in Lightroom (right) acquired depth and richness:

    • Exposure: +0.7EV
    • Contrast: +15
    • Shadows: +20 (to bring out detail in dark areas)
    • Saturation: +5 (no overkill)

    Accessories to enhance your shooting

    Do you want to display your photo? Redmi Note 7 to a new level? These accessories will help expand the camera's capabilities:

    1. External lenses

    Overhead lenses from Xenvo, Apexel or Moment add:

    • 🔍 Macro lens (magnification up to 15x) - for shooting small details.
    • 🌄 Wide angle lens (FOV 120°) - for landscapes and architecture.
    • 👁️ Telephoto (2x zoom) - for portraits without loss of quality.

    Cost: from 1,000 to 5,000 rubles.

    2. Tripods and stabilizers

    For stable shooting of video or night photos:

    • 📷 Joby GorillaPod Mini Tripod — flexible legs allow you to mount your smartphone on any surface.
    • 🎥 DJI Osmo Mobile 3 Stabilizer - for smooth, judder-free videos.
    • 💡 Ring lamp — uniform lighting for portraits and macro.

    3. Memory cards

    Filming in 48 MP and video in 4K fills memory quickly. We recommend:

    • 💾 SanDisk Extreme UHS-I (128–256 GB) – write speed up to 90 MB/s.
    • 💾 Samsung EVO Plus (64–512 GB) - optimized for mobile devices.
    ⚠️ Attention: Cheap class memory cards Class 10 may not cope with 4K video recording - choose models marked U3 or V30.

    FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions

    📸 Is it possible to shoot in RAW format on Redmi Note 7?

    Yes, to do this go to Camera Settings → Advanced → Image Format and select RAW+JPEG. Files will be saved in the format .dng and occupy ~20–25 MB.

    🔋 Why does the camera get very hot when shooting for a long time?

    Heating caused by high CPU load Snapdragon 660, especially when recording 4K video or shooting in 48 MP. To avoid overheating:

    • Shoot in sessions of 5-10 minutes with breaks.
    • Close background applications before shooting.
    • Remove the cover - it impairs heat dissipation.

    🌙 How to use night mode correctly?

    Night mode combines multiple frames to reduce noise, so:

    • Mount your smartphone on a tripod or against a wall.
    • Don't move your subject or you'll end up with a blurry shot.
    • Manually set shutter speed 1–2 s (in Pro Mode).

    Optimal exposure time: 3–5 seconds.

    🔍 Why do photos in zoom lose quality?

    Redmi Note 7 does not have an optical zoom - all magnification is software. At zoom ×2 and higher, the camera simply crops and scales the original frame, which leads to loss of detail. To improve the result:

    • Shoot at maximum resolution (48 MP) and crop later.
    • Use an external telephoto lens (eg Moment Tele 58mm).
    • Turn on HDR - this will improve the detail a little.

    📱 Which camera app is better: standard or GCam?

    Standard application MIUI Camera well optimized, but Google Camera (GCam) gives more natural colors and better noise reduction. Cons of GCam:

    • No support for 48 MP (maximum 12 MP).
    • May slow down on weak firmware.
    • Some modes are missing (for example, Pro Mode).

    We recommend trying both versions and comparing the results. You can download GCam on the forum 4PDA (look for the version for Snapdragon 660).